Jackanory - welcome to MM
Are you UK based? What are your periods like?
I have responded to you on the other thread but here is the section from the NICE guidelines that you need to show your GP:
Altered sexual function
1.4.8
Consider testosterone[1] supplementation for menopausal women with low sexual desire if HRT alone is not effective.
Urogenital atrophy
1.4.9
Offer vaginal oestrogen to women with urogenital atrophy (including those on systemic HRT) and continue treatment for as long as needed to relieve symptoms.
1.4.10
Consider vaginal oestrogen for women with urogenital atrophy in whom systemic HRT is contraindicated, after seeking advice from a healthcare professional with expertise in menopause.
1.4.11
If vaginal oestrogen does not relieve symptoms of urogenital atrophy, consider increasing the dose after seeking advice from a healthcare professional with expertise in menopause.
1.4.12
Explain to women with urogenital atrophy that:
symptoms often come back when treatment is stopped
adverse effects from vaginal oestrogen are very rare
they should report unscheduled vaginal bleeding to their GP.
1.4.13
Advise women with vaginal dryness that moisturisers and lubricants can be used alone or in addition to vaginal oestrogen.
1.4.14
Do not offer routine monitoring of endometrial thickness during treatment for urogenital atrophy.
You shouldn't be having to spend all this money to try to sort your problems when a simple prescription of Vagifem would work wonders. Your GPs are being negligent I'm afraid. Do try some SYLK moisturiser as well alongside the Vagifem.
I find Multi Gyn Actigel (buy it online) really good to treat and prevent BV and thrush - I use it a couple of times a week as prevention and then if anything flares up I use it twice a day.
BE careful of the DHEA - do look up the side effects.
If you have problems with fibroids and bleeding, have they not offered you a Mirena?
This will often sort all these issues. Don't worry about breast cancer unless you have close family members who have had BC. If you had a Mirena you would then be able to have some systemic oestrogen that might well help generally with everything.
Like you, I spent a fortune on so called ‘natural' or ‘alternative' remedies with no real success - I should have had a good holiday instead.
Get back to your GP and ask to be referred to a specialist gynae or menopause clinic if they won't give you what you need. You are too young to be suffering in this way.
jessieblue - I found Ovestin made me sore - Vagifem is less irritating. It does take at least 2-3 months for any local oestrogen to really work it's magic, so one has to put up with some discomfort at first. I would also try some SYLK to moisturise and sooth but not at the same time as Ovestin.
Good luck to you both - keep us posted. DG x